Ocala man charged with molesting of 5-year-old girl

A 71-year-old man who baby-sits a friend's children was arrested and accused of molesting one of the children, according to officials.

Austin L. MillerStaff Writer

OCALA - A 71-year-old man who babysits a friend’s children was arrested Thursday night and accused of molesting one of the children. On Friday, four additional charges were levied against the man.

Detective Stephen Thibodeau arrested Murray James “Jim” Thwaites of Ocala at 11:45 p.m. Thursday and charged him with lewd and lascivious molestation of a child under 12 and promoting a sexual performance by a child under 18.

Officials say the victim is 5 years old.

Earlier in the day, officers received a report from the child’s mother that “Mr. Jim” took the girl into his bedroom, asked her to remove her underwear, kissed her on the mouth and molested her.

The little girl also told officials the man took pictures of her.

The victim’s mother said Thwaites and his wife had been babysitting her children – the victim and her brother – for 18 months.

Thwaites’ wife was contacted by the child’s mother and reportedly confronted her husband about the allegation and he allegedly admitted to the offenses.

He was arrested and taken to the Marion County Jail.

Based on the girl’s allegations of Thwaites taking pictures of her, Thibodeau on Friday was granted a search warrant. He found a camera that contained four photographs showing graphic sexual images of the girl.

Thibodeau went to the jail and charged Thwaites with a four counts of possession of a sexual performance by a child. Each charge has a bond amount of $5,000.

Thwaites bail is now set at $120,000.

Contact Austin L. Miller at 867-4118 or austin.miller@starbanner.com.

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